The Veteran's metastases to the brain, right lung, and small bowel are not considered additional disability resulting from VA treatment for his left shoulder melanoma. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against an award of compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.
The deciding factor: The metastases were not caused or aggravated by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment on the part of VA in furnishing medical treatment to the Veteran for left shoulder melanoma; nor was such the result of an event that was not reasonably foreseeable.
- Claimed conditions
- Melanoma, Metastasis to brain, Metastasis to right lung, Metastasis to small bowel
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 21, 2011
- Citation
- 1135388
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1135388.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's melanoma is granted service connection. Service connection for skin cancer other than melanoma is remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the DIC benefits claim due to a failure to obtain relevant medical records from Jefferson City Health and Rehabilitation Center, which could provide information about the Veteran's diagnosis of melanoma.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for residuals of a skin condition, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a heart disability, kidney tumor, melanoma, back disability, and bilateral hearing loss to correct duty-to-assist errors.
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